Saudi Arabia threatens countries who support UN probe in Yemen

People search for survivors after air strikes were carried by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen on 23 August 2017 [Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency]

September 27, 2017 at 4:13 pm

Trade and diplomatic ties are at risk for countries that support a United Nations Human Rights Council resolution that could encourage an independent probe into violations in Yemen, the Associated Press has reported.

According to the news wire, a letter sent by Saudi Arabia to two unidentified countries stated:

Adopting the Netherlands/Canadian draft resolution in the Human Rights Council may negatively affect the bilateral political and economic relations with Saudi Arabia.

Two competing resolutions – one by Saudi Arabia and other Arab states and another by Canada and the Netherlands – have been proposed on how to best document the human rights violations in Yemen. Officials in the UK are amongst international representatives who have questioned “the laughable notion that the Saudi-led coalition, which is bombing homes, schools and hospitals, can investigate itself.”

The United Nations has repeatedly called for an investigation into war violations by parties to the Yemen civil war.

Saudi Arabia has bought arms from the United States and the United Kingdom which it has used in its war in Yemen. More than 10,000 civilians have been killed in Yemen with international human rights organisations regularly accusing Saudi of committing war crimes in the country.

Saudi Arabia has led a coalition of Arab stated in an aerial campaign in Yemen since March 2015, allegedly to protect the governance of President Abd Rabbuh Mansur Hadi and push back territorial advances from the Iranian-backed Houthi group.

No official United Nations investigation has been conducted in Yemen however Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International are continually monitoring airstrikes and raids in civilian populated areas.

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